Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Rumors: Coaching decision belongs wholly to Jeff Weltman

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 12: Jeff Weltman, General Manager of the Orlando Magic, talks to the media during a press conference on April 12, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 12: Jeff Weltman, General Manager of the Orlando Magic, talks to the media during a press conference on April 12, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After rumors and innuendo suggesting ownership directed some basketball personnel decisions, it appears Jeff Weltman is in complete control of the franchise

The Orlando Magic’s coaching search has gone fairly slowly. Not like the last time when the team targeted Frank Vogel and hired him within a week of Scott Skiles‘ sudden and surprising resignation.

There have been very few leaks coming out of the Amway Center (possibly because much of the in-arena staff was fired). And president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond even spent a week scouting prospects in Europe — including presumptive top overall pick Luka Doncic.

So far all that seems to be known is the Orlando Magic will interview Portland Trail Blazers coach David Vanterpool, an ESPN report Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel confirmed, and possibly Raptors 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse will also get an interview.

Weltman said it repeatedly during his postseason press conference — a line he had used previously in describing his rebuild — the goal is to do it right, not do it fast.

The Magic do not seem phased with other teams leaking their progress in their coaching search. They seem to be targeting directly who they want. That might mean waiting a bit longer as other coaches complete their Playoff runs — including Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov and Toronto Raptors assistant coach Nick Nurse.

But another curious statement came out of Weltman’s postseason press conference. And it spoke to an issue that has embroiled the Magic since the team hired Skiles in 2015.

Who makes the final decision? Weltman made it clear that day, the coaching decision and all basketball personnel decisions come from him:

"“I will make the hire,” Weltman said. “If you are asking do I have autonomy do this job, I can tell you simply, I would not have come here if I did not.”"

Certainly, Weltman had a good thing going helping build the Raptors, who earned the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference this year. To leave that cushy position for a challenging rebuild was a significant risk.

Orlando wanted to bring someone in who had a ton of experience in the league. Something that was the total opposite of Rob Hennigan. Hennigan came in as the “whiz kid.” A young up and comer getting a job perhaps he was ready for that leadership position.

Certainly, it seems the goings on behind the scenes did not help matters either. There was a lot of inexperience and frustrated goals in the process.

It was long rumored the Magic’s decision to hire Skiles was not a decision Hennigan made. Rather it was a decision ownership insisted upon. There has been little evidence to support this. But it seems to be no coincidence Scott Skiles’ name popped up immediately after the Magic fired Jacque Vaughn midseason.

What has come out is just how much ownership insisted on going a certain way after Skiles resigned.

According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, Magic CEO Alex Martins and the DeVos family pushed the team to hire Frank Vogel. Even though Rob Hennigan preferred hiring lead assistant coach Adrian Griffin to keep continuity from a successful 35-win season. Ownership won that battle.

Robbins’ report seems to suggest there was at best a miscommunication between ownership and Hennigan over expectations. Or, at worst, there was an organization where ownership was directing basketball personnel moves.

Regardless, Hennigan deserves the fault for making all final decisions with basketball operations. Including his disastrous roster moves during the summer of 2016.

That brings Weltman into the fold. It seems the organization has learned some lessons from those mistakes and realizes how much they have to change things.

Weltman has already begun changing the franchise’s direction with massive staff changes behind the scenes. And he will get to pick his head coach moving forward.

It is unclear what direction the Magic will head. But it feels like Weltman will have the autonomy to make those decisions. He will take the team the direction he wants to go.

Next: Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Picking up the pieces

At least for now.